Wash pad manufacture



1946. I c. E. ZIMMERMAN 2,394,419

WASH PAD MANUFACTURE Filed July 10, 1941 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 CizarZesEZz'mzrzezwzwz Feb. 5, 1946. c. E. ZIMMERMAN WASH PAD MANUFACTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Julylo 1941 Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASH PAD MANUFACTURE Charles E. Zimmerman, Chicago, Ill.

Application July 10, 1941, Serial No. 401,873

6 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to wash pad manufacture. More particularly the invention relates to the manufacture of that type of wash pad which is designed or adapted for cleaning and scrubbing the face and other parts of the human body and comprises a pad-like body of porous rubber latex and with a transverse slit between its side edges and a flexible handle-forming hand-encircling strap which extends across the back face of the body and has its ends folded inwards and fitting and cemented in the ends of the slit.

One object of the invention is to provide a method whereby a wash pad of the aforementloned type may be manufactured not only expeditiously but also at an extremely low cost.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wash pad manufacturing method which includes as preliminary steps, first, stretching the pad body in a longitudinal or lengthwise direction and making in the body while the latter is in its stretched condition, an incision extending inwards from one side edge of the body to a point past the mid point of the body and then while the body is stretched making an incision from the other side edge to the inner end of the first mentioned incision in order to form the transverse slit for accommodating and anchoring the inturned ends of the flexible handle-forming hand-encircling strap.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wash pad manufacturing method which is essentially simple.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present wash pad manufacturing method will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention involves the hereinafter set forth method and is more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which form a component part of the disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wash pad which i made in accordance with the improved method;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the body of the pad before formation of the transverse slit therein and application of the flexible handleforming hand-encircling strap;

Figure 3 is a view partly in plan and partly in section showing the manner in which the first side incision is made while the body is in a longitudinally stretched condition;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the body showing the latter after formation of the first incision and while it is in an unstretched condition, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section for the purposes of illustration;

Figure 5 is a view partly in plan and partly in section showing the manner in which the second side incision is. made in order to form the transverse slit for accommodating and anchoring the ends of the flexible handle-forming strap;

Figures 6 and '7 are transverse sections of the pad body showing the body after formation of the slit and illustrating the manner in which the ends of the flexible handle-forming handencircling strap are inserted into the ends of the slit; and a Figure 8 is a transverse section of the body illustrating the manner in which the rubber cement is introduced into the slit in order to anchor the inturned ends of the strap.

The manufacturing method which constitutes the invention comprehends the formation of a Wash pad which is primarily designed or adapted for cleansing 0r scrubbing the face and other parts of the human body. The completed pad, 1. e., the pad which is formed by the instant method, is shown in Figure 1 and comprises a body 9 and a hand-encircling strap Ill. The body is rectangular except for rounded corners and has normally flat front and back faces. It is formed of porous rubber lateX and has sponge characteristics or properties. Preferably the latex of the body 9 is of the so-called Foam variety having a density of between 0.0018 and 0.0060 pound per cubic inch and in addition communicating pores of varying sizes up to a maximum of the order of magnitude of 0.075 inch. In the central portion of the body a transverse slit II is formed. This slit is of uniform width from end to end and has open ends which debouch or intersect the side edges of the body 9.

The strap l8 constitutes a handle whereby the body may be readily manipulated in connection with a washing or scrubbing operation. It extends transversely across the central portion of the back face of the body and is formed of any suitable tough or durable textile fabric. The

ends of the strap are folded inwards and fit within the end portions of-the transverse slit H in the central portion of the body 9. They are anchored in place by rubber cement and have the extremities thereof in substantial abutment as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Preferably the strap is the same in width as the slit :1. in using the pad the user inserts his or her hand between pad body is removed and then squeezed so as todischarge all free water from it. Directly after the squeezing step or operation an incision I2 is made inone side of the pad body. As shown in" jacent end of the slit H (see Figure 6). Thereafter the other end of the strap is folded or turned inwards and is inserted into the other'end of the slit so that its extremity abuts against the extremity of. the strap. end first inserted into the "slit. Preferably the ends of the strap are inserted into place by forcin them'into the ends of the slit with the forefinger. ,After the ends of the strap have been properly inserted into the end portions of the slit I l rubber cement is introduced into the slit by way of a nozzle I16. latter, as shown in Figure 8; is insertedinto the I slit and is caused to discharge a sufiicient body'of Figure 4, the incision I2 extends from one of. the

side edges of the pad body to a point past the mid point of the body and is substantially of uniform width from end to end. The incision is formed by stretching thepad body 9 ina longitudinal or lengthwise direction and then while the body is stretched penetrating the body with a flat rotary disc-like knife l3. Stretching of the body is preferably effected by gripping the.

ends ofthe body with pairs of clamp type grip-- pers l4 and then forcing the grippers apart. When the" body is stretched it is shifted laterally so as to cause the knife It to penetrate a substantial distance into the body, 'as shown in Figure 3.. The body is preferably stretched to a point wherein it is approximately twice its normal length. When the body is so stretched the rotary knife l3 readily penetrates the body and leaves a flat incision or out. By causing the knife. to pene.-' trate past the mid point of the body,. as shown in Figure 3, the incision l2 extends past the mid point, of the body and has, when the body is in its unstretched position, the contour or shape that is shown or illustrated in Figure 4. In forming the incision i2 the knife I3 is caused to'penetrate the body in such manner that the faces thereof are in parallel relation with the front and back faces of the pad. By causing the knife so to penetrate the body th incision i2 isin parallel relation with the front and back faces of the pad reverse position with respect to the grippers l4.

Thereafter the grippers are forced apart so as again to stretch the body 9. 'When. the. body is in its stretched condition for the secondtime the rotary knife i3 is brought into penetratin-grelation with the other side portion of the body in order to form an incision or cut [5,.which intersects the inner end of the incision l2 andtogether with the latter incision. formsthe transverse slit ll. After formation. of the second incision the body 9 is released so that it assumes its normal. position. When the body is in itsv unstretched condition the lit I! is of reduced. width and extends between andthrough the sideedgesof. the body; The purpose of moistening the pad body before slitting is to make it easier to. slit the body while it is in a stretched condition. The iinmersion step is a particular advantage when. thebody is. formed of porous rubber latex in that it serves to prevent the body from being burned or seared, in connection with penetration. by therotary knife. I3. After formation of theslit H. by the knife formed incisions l2 and the strap. is is placed. transversely across the centralportion of theback face of the body of the pad and one end. is folded V or turned inwards. and is inserted into the. ad'- rubber cement to effect proper anchoring of the 7 infolded endsv of the strap; After introduction of the rubber cement into the slit the nozzle is withdrawn. When the rubber cement sets the body .andstrip are inconnected relation and the wash pad is complete.

The. herein described method of wash pad man-'5 ufacture is simple and may be carried out ex peditiously and with facility. It makes it. pos-' sibleto produce the complete pad-at an extremelyv low cost and is characterized by the fact that. the initial steps thereof make for a simple. and. easy formation of the strap-receivingslit H The invention is not. to be understood 'asfre stricted to the details set forth since. these. may

be modified within the scope of the. appended claims without departing, from the. spirit. and? scope of the-invention.

Iiaving thus described" the invention, claim as new and desire to secureby Letters;Batent is:

That improvementin wash pad manufacture which comprises stretching. an elongatedjelastic body of porous sponge-like rubber and While the body is stretched inserting through the central. portions of the side margins of the body aknife in order to form opposite incisions in. the body, then releasing the body so that it returns to its. normal.

- size, and thereafter inserting the ends of a handleforming strap into the incisions and anchoring them in place.

2; That improvementin wash pad manufacture.

V which comprises moisteningan elongated: elastic After formation of the incision l2 the.

pad body 9 is released and is then, placed. a.

body'qf porous sponge-like rubber, thenstretchingf the body longitudinally 'and' while the body stretched bringing a. rotary knife into penetrating.

relation with the side edges of. the body in order" to form a pair of opposed incisions, then releasing the body so that it returns to its normal size and. 1 thereafter-inserting the ends' of a. handle-forming,

strap into the incisions and anchoring. them. in place.

elastic body of'porous sponge-like rubben then stretching the body longitudinally and while the body is: so stretched bringing a rotary knifeinto penetrating: relation withoneof'the side edges of the body until its inner port'i'ori'passes the mid point or: the, body and forms an: incision, then whilethe body islongitudinally stretched bringing such rotary knifeinto: penetrating relation: with the other side edge of the bodyuntil its inner p01 tion intersectsthe inner end. of; the inci'sionand forms a second incisionwhich communicates with; v

the first mentioned .incision, then releasing the: body so that it returns, to it normal size;;then,in'-

serting, the ends of a handle-forming strapqinto the incisions: untilv the extremities. thereof abut,

and finally anchoring the-strap ends in place.

e That improvement inwashpad manufacture which comprises first stretching longitudinally an The what I.

3 That improvement inwash' pad manufacture whichcomprisesfirst moistening an elongated elastic body of porous sponge-like rubber and while the body is so stretched inserting a knife through one of the side edges thereof until it passes the mid point of the body and forms an incision, then while the body is longitudinally stretched inserting a knife through the other side edge of the body until it intersects the inner end of the incision and forms a second incision which communicates with the first mentioned incision, then releasing the body so that it returns to its normal size, then inserting the ends of a fabric handle-forming strap into the incisions until the extremities thereof are in abutment, and finally introducing rubber cement into the incisions in order to anchor the strap ends in place.

5. That improvement in wash pad manufacture which comprises first stretching longitudinally an elastic body of porous sponge-like rubber and while the body is so stretched inserting a knife through the central portion of one of the side edges of the body until it penetrates past the mid point of the body and forms an incision, then releasing the body, then stretching the body longitudinally to the same extent as the original stretch and inserting a knife through the central portion of the other side edge of the body until it intersects the inner end of the incision and forms a. second incision in communication with the first mentioned incision, and finally inserting the ends of a flexible handle-forming strap into the incisions and anchoring them in place.

6. That improvement in Wash pad manufacture which comprises first saturating with water an elongated elastic body of porous sponge-like rubber, then stretching the body longitudinally and while the body is so stretched bringing a rotary knife into penetrating relation with the central portion of one of the side edges of the body until its inner portion penetrates past the mid point of the body and forms an incision, then releasing the body, then stretching the body longitudinally to the same extent as the original stretch and while the body is stretched bringing such rotary knife into penetrating relation with the central portion of the other side edge of the body until its inner portion intersects the inner end of the incision and forms a second incision which communicates with the first mentioned incision, then releasing the body so that it returns to its normal size, then inserting the ends of a handle-forming fabric strap into the incisions until the extremities thereof abut adjacent the mid point of the body, and finally introducing rubber cement into the incisions in order to anchor the strap ends in place.

CHARLES E. ZIMMERMAN. 

